Translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Tripitaka Master Siksananda

Translated into English by K'un Li, Shih

Edited by K'un Li, Shih and Dr. Frank G. French

Chapter 5: The Names Of The
Various Hells

At that time, Bodhisattva-Mahasattva Samantabhadra addressed Bodhisattva
Ksitigarbha, saying, "Will you, sir, kindly speak for the
benefit of devas, nagas and the four-fold assembly of Buddhists,
as well as for all sentient beings of the present and of future
times, about the places where retribution is to be meted out to
the poor sinful beings in the Saha World and Jambudvipa, noting,
as well, designations of the various hells and the different sorts
of retribution for evil acts, so that those sentient beings in
the decaying period of Buddhadharma in the future will know about
such retribution."

Ksitigarbha replied, "Sir, fully respecting Buddha's majestic
spirit and the Mahasattva's power, I shall now give you a brief
account of the designations of various hells as well as the different
sorts of retribution for different kinds of sins and evil actions.
Sir, in the east of Jambudvipa there is a mountain known as Cakravada
(Iron-Enclosed). This mountain is dark and deep and receives no
light from the sun or the moon. Here there is a major hell named
Avici and another hell named Mahavici. There is another hell named
Four-Cornered. There is another hell named Flying-Sword. There
is another hell named Fire-Arrows. There is another hell named
Pitching-Mountains. There is another hell named Piercing-Spears.
There is another hell named Iron-Cart. There is another hell named
Iron-Rack. There is another hell named Iron-Cattle. There is another
hell named Thousand-Knives. There is another hell named Iron-Mule.
There is another hell named Molten-Copper. There is another hell
named Embrace-Pillar. There is another hell named Flowing-Fire.
There is another hell named Cultivating-Tongue. There is another
hell named File-Heads. There is another hell named Scorch-Feet.
There is another hell named Peck-Eyes. There is another hell named
Iron-Shots. There is another hell named Fight-Quarrel. There is
another hell named Iron-Axe. There another hell named Much-Hate."

Ksitigarbha continued, saying, "Sir, inside the Cakravada
Mountain there exist such hells, infinite in number. In addition
to the hells I have already mentioned, there are Yell-Shout Hell,
Strip-Tough Hell, Excretion Hell, Copper-Lock Hell, Fire-Elephant
Hell, Fire-Hound Hell, Fire-Horse Hell, Fire-Ox Hell, Fire-Hill
Hell, Fire-Rock Hell, Fire-Bed Hell, Fire-Beam Hell, Fire-Hawk
Hell, Saw-Teeth Hell, Peel-Skin Hell, Drink-Blood Hell, Scorch-Hand
Hell, Burn-Foot Hell, Inverted-Thorn Hell, Fire-Abode Hell, Iron-Abode
Hell and Fire-Wolf Hell. Within each one of these hells there are,
in turn, some lesser hells-one or two in some, three or four in
others or even hundreds or thousands in some cases-each one having
its own designation."

Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, explaining further, said to Bodhisattva
Samantabhadra, " Sir, these are the places and manners in
which sentient beings in South Jambudvipa who create bad karma
by leading evil lives receive their retribution. Karma is tremendously
powerful. It is capable of covering Mount Sumeru, is capable of
plumbing the vast ocean depths and is even capable of obstructing
the holy doctrines. Therefore, sentient beings should not neglect
lesser evils as being not sinful; for retribution will be meted
out to them after their deaths for every bad intention or violation,
even though it be as small or insignificant as an iota. Even beings
as closely related as fathers and sons will part their respective
ways, and one will not take the punishment of the other even if
they chance to cross paths.

"Now, by virtue of Buddha's majestic powers, I shall give
a brief account of the various kinds of retribution for different
sins in the hells that I have mentioned. I hope only that you will
carefully listen to my words."

Samantabhadra replied, "I have always known, from long ago,
the various kinds of retribution meted out on the three evil paths
of existence. Sir, will you please speak about them so that all
the evil-doers hereafter, in the decaying period of Buddhadharma,
may hear you and, thereupon, take refuge in the Buddha."

Ksitigarbha said, "Sir, some of the different sorts of retribution
meted out in the various hells are as follows: In some hells, the
tongues of punished beings are plucked out to be plowed under by
oxen or cows; in others, the hearts of punished beings are ripped
out to be devoured by yaksas; in others, the bodies of punished
beings are boiled in huge pots full of sizzling water; in others,
punished beings are forced to embrace red-hot, scorching copper
pillars; in others, punished beings are chased and caught by bursts
of fire; in others, it is always ice cold; in others, there is
limitless filthy excretion; in others, darts and pellets are whizzing
and shooting about; in others, many fiery spears are continually
stabbing out; in others, only the breasts and backs of punished
beings are pounded; in others, only their hands and feet are burned;
in others, there are iron serpents winding and twisting about punished
beings; in others, there are iron hounds chasing them; and in still
others, there are iron mules riding them.

"Sir, for such kinds of retribution there are hundreds of
thousands of sorts of instruments for torture and punishment in
each one of the hells; these instruments are made only of copper,
iron, rock or fire. These four kinds of conditions-as well as the
instruments of torture and punishment they are formed into-are
caused by the various karmic sinful deeds.

"Now, thanks to Buddha's majestic spirit and your inquiry,
I have just completed a brief account of the different sorts of
retribution in the various kinds of hell. However, to give an exhaustive
description of every kind of retribution for every sort of sin
in each and every type of hell-with the hundreds of thousands of
miserable tortures in each one of the innumerable hells-would not
be possible even though I were to continue for innumerable kalpas."